Best book for quantum foundations

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for books on the foundations of quantum mechanics, with participants sharing their experiences and preferences regarding the style and content of such texts.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses dissatisfaction with Franck Laloë's book "Do We Really Understand Quantum Mechanics," describing it as chatty and lengthy, and seeks alternative recommendations.
  • Another participant questions the meaning of "foundations of Quantum Mechanics" and suggests that the expectation for more mathematical content versus chatty explanations may differ among readers.
  • A participant mentions a shorter version of Laloë's work available online, implying it may be more suitable for those who find the original too long.
  • Some participants note that books on quantum foundations tend to be chatty to convey the meanings behind the equations, contrasting this with more straightforward physics texts that focus on the equations themselves.
  • One participant recommends the undergraduate book "Foundations of Quantum Mechanics" by Travis Norsen, while another comments that it is even more chatty than Laloë's book.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the preferred style of books on quantum foundations, with some favoring more concise texts while others appreciate the chatty nature of discussions in such books.

Contextual Notes

There are varying expectations regarding the balance between mathematical rigor and conversational explanations in books about quantum foundations, which may influence recommendations.

Jamister
Messages
58
Reaction score
4
I'm looking for a book on foundation of quantum mechanics. I started reading the book "do we really understand quantum mechanics" of franck laloë , and it seems to be very chatty and long. Do you have any recommendations?
Thank you
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What do you mean by „foundations of Quantum Mechanics”? What do you expect to find there, many more words than mathematics?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Demystifier
Jamister said:
I'm looking for a book on foundation of quantum mechanics. I started reading the book "do we really understand quantum mechanics" of franck laloë , and it seems to be very chatty and long. Do you have any recommendations?
Thank you
If the book is too long for you, there is a shorter version
http://de.arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0209123

The books on quantum foundations are usually chatty, for a reason. The point of quantum foundations is to understand not only what the equations are, but also what all those equations mean. If you don't like chatty, then perhaps by quantum foundations you mean something else. in that case I would suggest
https://www.amazon.com/dp/052187534X/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9814578584/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Jamister
What the equations mean you can find in physics books, of which there are many which are not chatty (fortunately). If it comes to interpretation you have the entire gang of philosophers not far around the corner and then it gets chatty. Don't blame them. That's their job description!
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Demystifier, George Jones, S.G. Janssens and 1 other person
There also is the undergad book "Foundations of Quantum Mechanics" by Travis Norsen.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: atyy and vanhees71
George Jones said:
There also is the undergad book "Foundations of Quantum Mechanics" by Travis Norsen.
Yes, but it's much more chatty than Laloe.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
6K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 47 ·
2
Replies
47
Views
7K
Replies
28
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
6K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K